Spud or vertical anchor.



No. 724,386. I PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903;

G; E. FOWLER.

SPUD OR VERTICAL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES JNVENTOR.

A UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FOWLER, OF-SEATTLE, W'ASHINGTON.

SPUD OR VERTICAL ANCHOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,386, dated March31, 1903.

Application filed May 9, 1902. Serial No. 106,62 9. (No model) IO spudsor vertical anchors on which dredgers or the like swing when feedingthem to their Work.

Among numerous objects attained by this invention and readily understoodfrom the following specification and accompanying drawings included as apart thereof is the production of an anchor of the above natureembodying essential features of durability, general efficiency, andutility which prolong the usefulness thereof, increase the strength ofthe article, render it easier of manipulation and more readily producedat a decreased cost.

- The above-mentioned and numerous other 2 5 objects equally asdesirable are attained by the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, as disclosed on the drawings, set forth in the followingspecification, and succinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings filed herewith and bearing like referencecharacters for correspondingzparts throughout, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my improved spud. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of thestem thereof on large scale; and Fig. 3 is a similar section,

on like scale, of the wood portion or stick of the stem with thereinforcing-bars removed.

Before proceeding to describe my invention in its present and preferredembodiment the ac difficulties attending the construction andmanipulation of the ordinary spud will be .comprehensively set forth,whereby the great advantages offered by the construction and use of avertical anchor such as herein presented will be readily marked by thoseacquainted with the art to which it pertains. As heretofore consideredthis class of anchors consisted of a. wood stem with an iron shoe orpoint at the lower end, and owing to the great so torsional and fiexurestrains to which such stems are subjected in use it was found that theyshould be composed of Well-seasoned verticalgrained timber of largediameter and clear and free of knots or other imperfections. Theseprerequisites rendered the first cost expensive and the spud heavy andunwieldy to handle and made it absolutely necessary to carry an extranumber of substitute anchors when operating at points remote to a timbercenter, and even with such expensive precaution great annoyance anddelay were oftentimes experienced owing to the fact that the stems ofsuch spuds repeat edly snapped off or were soon greatly worn andsplintered by repeated adjustments in the sockets or casings by whichthey are connected to a dredge, and thus rendered unfit for use.

It has been my aim in the production of the spud hereinafter describedto decrease the cost of production, produce an anchor of lighter weightand little bulk, prolong the usefulness thereof, and render it possibleto use repeatedly'the most expensive portions of the anchor bysubstitution of the least expensive parts should they become worn orunfit for use and also render it possible to use an inferior andinexpensive quality of timber in the stem.

In accomplishing the objects of the invention I construct the stem, as10, of the spud by combining with a wood portion, as a stick or timber11 of comparatively small diameter and inexpensive quality, removablereinforcing-sections, as 12, which are rendered of hard material and arepreferably so arranged that in addition to adding strength and stiifmessto the stem of the anchor they shield the stick and offerbearing-surfaces beyond the peripheral surface thereof which serve toguard this wood portion from being chafed, splintered, or peeled as thespud is raised, lowered, or otherwise manipulated or as the dredgeswings thereon. these reinforcing-sections comprise bars of suitablemetal substantially rectangular in cross-section and disposed insuitable grooves 14:, formed in the periphery of the stick1ongitudinally thereof and rendered of a predetermined depth, whichinsures the outer side surfaces of the strips lying slightly above orbeyond the surface of the stick, where they act to guard same fromabrasions or wear.

in the present embodiment the stick 11 is As now considered renderedround and of any desired length, and a groove 14 is formed in each ofthe four quarters of the periphery thereof, so that when the spud isacting under flexure strain some of the bars will always lie diagonallyopposed to the line of strain, and thereby hold the spud stilt. Thesebars are preferably removablysecu red in place in the grooves 14 bysuitable wood-screws 15 or the like having beveled heads and which areplaced in suitable countersunk apertures arranged at desired separationthroughout the length of the bars, so that the heads of the screws liebelow the outer or bearing-surface of the bars and leave said surfacesmooth and even throughout. By the use of these reinforcingbars acomparatively inexpensive slender timber of inferior quality can be usedin its rough state as the stem of the spud, and when it becomes rottenor is otherwise unfitted for further use these bars can be readilyremoved and, a new stick substituted, and owing to the reduction in sizeof these sticks and their use in comparatively rough state, as madepossible by the reinforcing-bars, the material from which they arecomposed may be gathered from driftwood along the beach or taken 'fromstanding timber and hewn to a rough form, thus obviating the necessityof keeping on hand extra spnds and greatly reducing the cost and theskill required in production, while they are thus rendered much lighterin weight .and their length of usefulness greatly prolonged.

When the spud is in use, any ordinary or suitable metal shoe or point,as 16, is secured to the lower extremity of the stem in any well-knownor desired manner, and the spud is manipulated in any usual or desiredmanner and worked in a socket or casing arranged on the dredger at asuitable point,

as well understood by those having knowledge of the operations of aswinging dredger.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

1. In a spud, a stem, metallic reinforcingstrips disposed longitudinallyof the stem, and a metallicpoint provided on the stem, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a spud, a stem, metallic reinforcingstrips disposed longitudinallyof the stem, said strips projecting beyond the periphery of the stem,and meansfor removably securing each strip independently of the others,substantially as described.

In a spud, a stem having longitudinal grooves, metallicreinforcing-strips arranged in the grooves so as to project beyond theperiphery of the stem, and means for removably securing the strips inthe grooves, substantially as described.

4. In a spud, a stem having longitudinal grooves, metallicreinforcing-strips of greater thickness than the depth of the groovesarranged in the grooves and adapted to project beyond the periphery ofthe stem, and means for removably securing the strips in the grooves,substantially as described.

5. In a vertical anchor of the nature indicated; a stem comprising asubstantially round stick or timber having a rectangular groove formedin each quarter longitudinally the periphery, a reinforcing-bar of metalin each of said grooves of greater thickness than the depth thereof,whereby the outer surfaces of the bars are made to actasbearing-surfaces and shield said stick, and means to removably securethe bars in place.

6. In a spud, a stem having longitudinal grooves, metallicreinforcing-strips having countersunk apertures and'arranged in thegrooves so as to project beyond the periphery of the stem,-screwsfitting in the countersunk apertures and adapted to removahly secure thestrips in the grooves, substantially as described.

7. In a spud, a stem having longitudinal grooves, metallicreinforcing-strips arranged in the grooves so as to project beyond theperiphery of the stem, a metallic point provided on the stem, and meansfor remo'vably securing the strips in the grooves and the point on thestem, substantially as described.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 19th day of April, 1902.

' CHARLES E. FOWLER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. HARDENBERGH, CHARLES G. ELLIS.

